In a statement, Falk pointed the finger directly at the Liberals, saying the large number of government MPs who had voted against his bill ensured its demise.

Conservative MP Ted Falk rises in the House of Commons Wednesday April 20, 2016 in Ottawa. (Photo: Adrian Wyld/CP)

"Apparently many still believe that feeding politicians is more important than feeding the hungry," he wrote.

"The long-standing belief of Liberals that they are entitled to their entitlements is apparently still alive and well," he added. "They have placed their own entitlement attitude in front of the best interests of the poor, the homeless, the hungry and the sick. For them to continue to support such an unfair system is self-serving and simply wrong."

Eight Liberal MPs, three New Democrats and Green Party Leader Elizabeth May did vote in favour of sending Falk's bill to committee for further study.

May tweeted that she was disappointed to see the bill defeated.

Disappointed to see that PMB defeated. It should have gone to committee to study. @althiaraj@MPTedFalk

The Liberal government and the NDP, however, argued that the measure would cost the treasury upwards of $1.7 billion dollars and end up helping primarily the wealthy.

In the Commons Tuesday, François-Philippe Champagne, the parliamentary secretary to the minister of finance, said the government recognized the "spirit and good intentions" of the bill but that it would not support the proposed legislation because it could end up increasing the cost of the charitable tax credit by nearly 68 per cent.

The federal government already provides approximately $3 billion a year in assistance for charitable donations, Champagne said.

"Charitable donations are already very generous in Canada," he said.

NDP critic says bill would benefit the wealthy

Unlike the tax credit for political contributions, which is designed to give generous tax assistance for small contributions and levels off tax assistance as donation amounts rise, Champagne said, the charitable tax credit is far more generous for those who make large donations. "The higher the donation amount, the higher the tax credit," he said.

A $400 donation to a political party currently generates a 75 per cent federal tax credit, or $300 reduction. That same $400 donation to a charity generates a federal credit of $88 — 15 per cent for the first $200 and 29 per cent credit on the other $200.

NDP finance critic Guy Caron said Falk's bill would disproportionately benefit those with high incomes because they are in a "much better position" to donate.

"Donations would no longer be made solely to satisfy charitable impulses, but for tax planning purposes," he said in a speech Tuesday.

"Apparently many still believe that feeding politicians is more important than feeding the hungry."— Tory MP Ted Falk

Caron said he was concerned the wealthy could avoid paying taxes and even make a "net gain" by combining a new more generous federal tax credit with current provincial tax credits for charitable giving.

"People would come out on top because the amount of the tax credit would be higher than that of the charitable donation."

Conservative MPs argued the opposite.

John Nater, the MP for the Ontario riding of Perth–Wellington, suggested people don't donate because they can't afford it and they should be encouraged to give more.

In 2013, when the Conservative government introduced the first-time donor tax credit, Nater said, it saw an increase of almost 100,000 Canadians donating that year.

Under Falk's bill, donating $200 to the Canadian Cancer Society or the Alzheimer Society would provide an average Canadian with a tax credit of about $150, rather than $30, he said.

"I believe that every member of the House would agree that we as the Canadian Parliament should reward those who donate to charitable causes."

Moreover, he suggested Canadians would be surprised to discover that the tax treatment of charitable donations is so different from political donations.

"It does not reflect our values as Canadians," he said.

Lessons from Fort McMurray

Alberta Yellowhead MP Jim Eglinski pointed to the flood of donations from Canadians to help those affected by the Fort McMurray fires. People had opened their wallets, donated money, food, rations, gas, he said.

"Canadians give. Maybe we can give back a little bit, and this is what the bill would do."

Despite the recent boost in Alberta, Eglinski said charitable donations had dropped by approximately 33 per cent over the past 25 years.

"Charities are suffering, and they need that money to operate," he said.

Statistics Canada figures suggest the total value of donations has gone up but that the number of Canadian tax filers claiming a donation has dropped over the past two decades, from 29.5 per cent in 1990 to 21.4 per cent in 2014. The median donation in 2014 was $280.

In his speech Tuesday before the vote, Falk said he was thankful for the cross-party support and he hoped his bill could foster a culture of generosity from coast to coast.

"Every day, every night, right across Canada, tragedies happen. Folks lose their jobs, illness attacks, families are broken, and people's lives are shattered," he said.

But the good news is that charities are there to provide food for the hungry, beds for the homeless, help for the hurting, support for the aging, and hope for the sick.

"Where would we all be without charities?" he asked.

Charities do more than crisis intervention, he added, saying they help advance scientific research, promote education and care for the environment.

"The aim of the bill is to strengthen charities and encourage Canadians to engage with and promote charities," he said.

"This is not a bill for rich people. It would hardly benefit rich people or those who are making big donations. It is a bill that, for the most part, would help the middle class. That is something the government has said it is all about, helping the middle class, and that is what this bill is about."

On April 1, 2016, members of Parliament received a 1.8 per cent pay increase, bringing the basic pay of each MP up to $170,400 from $167,400 the year prior.
But while that base salary is the same for every member, certain MPs are afforded the chance to make much more.
The full list of indemnities, salaries and allowances can be found here.

NDP MP Niki Ashton (Churchill-Keewatinook Aski) is an example of an MP who earns just the base salary afforded to all members.
2016 Salary: $170,400
There are currently 338 MPs.

The Right Honourable Justin Trudeau, however, makes double the salary of your average MP.
2016 Salary: $340,800
Car Allowance: $2,000

Veteran Liberal MP Geoff Regan was elected the new Speaker of the House of Commons in December 2015.
Though many Canadians might not know much about the job, House Speaker remains a very coveted role.
Here are some of the unique perks and powers that come with the job.

As of April 2015, the House Speaker earns $80,100 on top of the base MP salary of $167,400. That's $247,500 a year — the same amount of money earned by cabinet ministers and the leader of the Official Opposition.

The Speaker also gets to live at a beautiful, official residence.
Located at Kingsmere in the Gatineau Hills, the property consists of a farmhouse and five outbuildings surrounded by four acres of fields and forests.
The residence is closed to the public but you can take a virtual tour on the National Capital Commission website.

The Speaker also gets a small apartment in Parliament’s Centre Block, but it isn't as luxurious as you might think.
There's a double-bed and armoire in the small bedroom.

The living room in the Speaker's apartment features a desk, TV, gas fireplace and fridge.
There's also dressing room and a basic bathroom with a tub-shower combo, but no kitchen.

The Speaker's yearly car allowance of $1,000 is less than that of the prime minister, cabinet ministers, and the official opposition leader who all get $2,000.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is shown giving a thumbs up from his car after taking a tour of the West Block.

The Speaker's job is far from symbolic. He or she presides over question period, can expel misbehaving MPs, and has the power to make rulings when members think their rights have been infringed.
The Speaker is in charge of the administration of the Commons, including staff, security, and printing and postal services.
The Speaker also plays a diplomatic role by hosting foreign dignitaries, and travelling abroad as head of delegations at international conferences and other legislatures.
Former House Speaker Andrew Scheer and Senate Speaker Leo Housakos show King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands the Senate chamber.

According to the department of Canadian Heritage, Canada's order of ceremonial precedence is as follows: Governor General, prime minister, the chief justice of the Supreme Court, the Speaker of the Senate, and then the Speaker of the House of Commons.

In what has become a recent tradition, the Speaker selects a "Speaker's Scotch" that can be purchased at the parliamentary restaurant and even gets its own label.
Regan told HuffPost he's going with Glen Breton, single malt whisky.

UP NEXT: Rookie MPs To Watch

Joly, 36, made a name for herself by finishing second to ex-Liberal cabinet minister Denis Coderre in the Montreal mayoral race in 2013. A lawyer and communications expert who was heavily involved in her community, she ran for the Liberals and beat ex-Bloc MP-turned-New Democrat Maria Mourani.
Joly was named minister of Canadian heritage.

Caesar-Chavannes first gave the Tories a fright in a 2014 byelection to fill the seat left behind by the late Jim Flaherty. Though she lost to Whitby's then-mayor Pat Perkins, the race ended up being a lot closer than many expected.
In a rematch, Caesar-Chavannes, an entrepreneur and research consultant, won by almost 2,000 votes.

Deltell, a longtime member of Quebec's National Assembly, served as leader of the right-wing Action Démocratique du Québec until that party merged with Coalition Avenir Quebec a few years ago.
He was considered a star recruit for the Conservatives, who have struggled in the province. Deltell easily defeated his Liberal challenger by nearly 20,000 votes. The NDP incumbent finished third.

Despite not having a seat, Beaulieu was elected leader of the Bloc Quebecois in June 2014. He gave up the role just before the start of the election to make room for former leader Gilles Duceppe.
Though Duceppe lost his bid for a seat, Beaulieu was victorious and will soon have a chance to make his mark in Parliament.

Blair was chief of the Toronto Police Service from 2005 to 2015. He sparked controversy with his handling of the 2010 G20 protests in the city and publicly clashed with controversial ex-mayor Rob Ford.
A police officer for 40 years, Blair says he was approached by the Tories and New Democrats before he decided to run for the Trudeau Liberals.

Rayes, the popular mayor of Victoriaville since 2009, was courted for months to run federally. His pursuit of a nomination was interpreted as a sign of Conservative momentum in the province.
Rayes rolled to victory, besting his nearest competitor (a Liberal) by more than 4,000 votes.

Though New Democrats lost more than half their seats and saw many high-profile MPs defeated, Blaikie's razor-thin victory over a Tory incumbent was a bright spot.
Blaikie, 31, is the son of NDP stalwart Bill Blaikie, who served as an MP from 1979 to 2008. His sister, Rebecca, is president of the NDP.

Leslie, a retired general who led Canadian troops in Afghanistan, was one of the Liberals' star recruits. He served as Trudeau's foreign policy and defence adviser and unseated a Conservative incumbent in the Ottawa riding.

Morneau, the former executive chair of Morneau Shepell, one of Canada's largest human resources firms, has landed the coveted finance portfolio.

Wilson-Raybould, a former Crown prosecutor and regional chief of the B.C. Assembly of First Nations will serve as justice minister and attorney general.

Watts, the very popular former mayor of Surrey, likely would have landed in cabinet if Harper's Conservatives won again. Instead, she will be a fresh face in the opposition benches.
Mayor of B.C.'s second-largest city from 2005 to 2014, she was one of just two Conservatives endorsed by GreenPAC, a group dedicated to environmental causes.

Sajjan, a retired lieutenant colonel who also served in Afghanistan, was the first Sikh to command a Canadian Army regiment. He also served as a Vancouver police officer for 11 years.
He has been named defence minister.

Ouellette, a Cree academic who served almost 20 years in the Canadian Armed Forces, surprised many with a strong campaign for mayor of Winnipeg in 2014.
He unseated colourful NDP incumbent Pat Martin in a race that turned personal at times. Ouellette is one of a record 10 indigenous MPs elected to the House of Commons.

Liepert was an MLA in Alberta for 12 years and served as both minister of health and energy. He challenged controversial, longtime MP Rob Anders for the Tory nomination and even told Jason Kenney to "mind his own business" after the cabinet minister endorsed his rival.
Liepert easily won his seat and, days later, bashed the way the Conservative Party ran the national campaign. Liepert, it seems, is no shrinking violet.

O'Regan, a former host of "Canada AM" and CTV journalist, unseated an NDP incumbent in the Newfoundland riding.
While well-known for his broadcasting career, O'Regan also worked as an assistant to Jean Charest, back when he was a Progressive Conservative environment minister. He also worked as a speechwriter for former Liberal Newfoundland and Labrador premier Brian Tobin.

Mihychuk was an NDP MLA in Manitoba from 1995 to 2004, serving as minister of industry, trade, and mines, and later minister of intergovernmental affairs.
She has been named minister of employment.

McKenna, a social justice lawyer, was a former legal advisor for the United Nations peacekeeping mission in East Timor and founded Canadian Lawyers Abroad (now known as Level), a charity focused on global justice issues.
She will serve as minister of the environment and climate change.

Malcolmson captured the Vancouver Island riding for the NDP, winning by more than 6,000 votes.
She is a former chairwoman of the Islands Trust Council, and was elected to that body four times. Her experience in local government could mean a key role in an NDP caucus now depleted of many veterans MPs.

McCrimmon ran for the leadership of the Liberal Party in 2013 despite never holding elected office. A former lieutenant colonel in the Royal Canadian Air Force, McCrimmon was the first female air navigator and first woman to command a Canadian Forces flying squadron.

Hehr, an Alberta MLA from 2008 to 2015, was one of just two Liberals elected in Calgary. Grits were shut out of that city for almost 50 years.
The 45-year-old will serve as minister of veterans affairs and associate minister of national defence.

Philpott is a family physician, associate professor at the University of Toronto, and former chief of the department of family medicine at Markham Stouffville Hospital. She unseated controversial parliamentary secretary Paul Calandra by nearly 4,000 votes.
She will serve as minister of health.

A respected Edmonton city councillor since 2007, Sohi immigrated to Canada from India 35 years ago and served time behind bars as a political prisoner in India.
He has been named minister of infrastructure.

Qualtrough, a lawyer and former Paralympian, will serve as minister of sport.
Legally blind, Qualtrough won three Paralympic and four World Championship medals for Canada in swimming and was president of the Canadian Paralympic Committee.

A community organizer, Monsef was born in Afghanistan. She fled the Taliban and came to Canada as a refugee with her widowed mother and sisters in 1996.
Monsef, 30, will serve as minister for democratic institutions.

Hajdu, executive director of Thunder Bay's largest homeless shelter, will serve as status of women minister.

The 35-year-old, who worked for the Kitchener-Waterloo Multicultural Centre, will serve as minister of small business and tourism.

Duclos, a renowned economics professor at Laval University, will serve as minister of families, children and social development.

Carr, a former Manitoba MLA and deputy leader of the Manitoba Liberal Party, unseated a Tory incumbent by an astounding 17,000 votes.
He will serve as minister of natural resources.

Mendicino, a former federal prosecutor, knows how to go up against big names and win. First, he beat Tory-turned-Liberal Eve Adams in a nomination battle and won the Toronto seat held by finance minister Joe Oliver by nearly 6,000 votes.
He could be headed for big things in a Trudeau government.

Fuhr is a former CF-18 fighter pilot who served with the Canadian Air Force for 20 years. Though his riding had been reliably Conservative, he unseated the Tory incumbent by more than 4,000 votes.
Fuhr wrote a blog for HuffPost last year detailing how he went from being a lifelong Conservative to a Liberal candidate. He could be considered for a cabinet or parliamentary secretary role.